Always a tough circuit mid-year with the unpredictable winter weather, Wakefield Park provided a fantastic challenge for the 15-car field – the biggest of the season to date – for the third round of the GT-1 Australia series where two first-time winners claimed victory, whilst a title challenger – who himself has so far missed a race win – emerged as the round winner.
After qualifying at the top of the timesheets in both challenging sessions in damp conditions, Audi’s Matt Stoupas claimed pole position for the opening race, but despite finishing no better than third in race one and fourth in race two, the KFC-supported driver was crowned the round winner over points leader Jake Camilleri and category founder Rod Salmon thanks to the points system which rewards the top qualifiers.
For Camilleri, the result helped him maintain his impressive points lead despite losing his primary ride, the brilliant green MARC II Mustang having been sold on, forcing the MARC cars star back to the generation I Mazda 3 he had put to good use over past seasons, the Queenslander ultimately emerging second for the round.
Across the field there were a number of impressive performances, not the least Rio Nugara’s charge from rear-of-field to win the opening race, whilst John Goodacre led a trio of MARC cars across the line in race two to claim his maiden win of the year and a good haul of points.
